AP ENG III
Vocabulary
Word of the Day
Lesson One-A
AP Words of the Day
• Beatific
• embargo
• \bee-uh-TIFF-ik\
• \im-BAHR-goh\
• DEFINITION
adjective
1: of, possessing, or imparting a
state of utmost bliss
2: having a blissful appearance
• DEFINITION
noun
1: an order of a government
prohibiting the departure of
commercial ships from its ports
2: a legal prohibition on commerce
3: stoppage, impediment; especially
: prohibition
• EXAMPLES
Because of the trade embargo
against Cuba, certain items, such
as Cuban cigars, are illegal in the
United States.
Synonyms: ban, restriction,
interdiction, postscription.
• EXAMPLES
A beatific smile spread across
Grandmother’s face as she
reminisced about her wedding
day.
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AP Vocabulary
• gloze
• \GLOHZ\
• DEFINITION
verb
1: to mask the true nature of : give a deceptively attractive appearance to -often used with "over"
2: to deal with (a subject or problem) too lightly or not at all -- often used
with "over“
• EXAMPLES
"His modesty and shyness were at any rate proverbial, and it does seem
that he went out of his way to conceal or gloze over certain aspects of his
career, his military exploits in particular." (Eleanor Perenyi, Green
Thoughts)
• SYNONYMS: camouflage, cloak, conceal, condone, cover, diminish,
disguise
AP Vocabulary
• felicitous
• \fih-LISS-uh-tus\
• DEFINITION
adjective
1: very well suited or expressed : apt
2: pleasant, delightful
• EXAMPLES
The film’s score, at least, is felicitous, as it lends emotional intensity to the
otherwise wooden acting.
• SYNONYMS: convincing, fitting, happy, inspired, opportune, pertinent,
relevant, timely
AP Vocabulary
• myrmidon
• \MER-muh-dahn\
• DEFINITION
noun
1: a loyal follower; especially
2: a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously
• EXAMPLES
The boss was more likely to offer promotions to her myrmidons than to
those workers who occasionally questioned her tactics or proposed
alternate solutions.
• SYNONYMS: accomplice, adherent, aide, ally
AP ENG III
Vocabulary
Word of the Day
Lesson Two-A
John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, a British politician in the eighteenth century, was so
fond of gambling that he spent the whole day playing, while devouring slices of bread with a
filling between them. Little did he know that his name would become eponymous with that
food. From sandwich to boycott, we use numerous eponyms (words named after people) in
our daily discourse. In this week's AWAD, we'll look at five not so common eponyms, derived
from people real and mythical.
AP Vocabulary
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simony
PRONUNCIATION:
(SY-muh-nee, SIM-)
MEANING:
noun: Profiting from holy things, especially buying and selling of holy positions and
pardons.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Simon Magus, Samaritan sorcerer in the Bible, who wanted to buy spiritual
powers -- the ability to transfer the "Holy Spirit" by putting hands on someone -from Peter.
USAGE:
"A related theme -- the preacher or moraliser unmasked -- has been richly
illustrated in recent years by examples from real life: a string of corrupt American
televangelists, self-appointed 'men of God', who revelled in greed, lust, and
simony, the very things they were thought to be railing against."
Gilchrist; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 19, 1994.
AP Vocabulary
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luddite
PRONUNCIATION:
(LUHD-yt)
MEANING:
noun: One who opposes or avoids the use of new technology.
ETYMOLOGY:
After the Luddites, name taken by textile workers in England during 1811-1816 who destroyed
machinery that was displacing them. They took the name after one Ned Ludd, whose identity is not
clear. Ned Ludd is said to have destroyed, in a fit of insanity, a knitting frame in 1779. In response to
the Luddites, the British parliament passed the Frame Breaking Act which made the destroying of
knitting frames punishable by death.
USAGE:
"But I'm not a luddite. I'll keep my automatic coffee-maker, my computer, and my automatic
dishwasher, thank you!"
Richard Packham; Elaborate Appliances Don't Justify the Cost or the Space; The News-Review
(Roseburg, Oregon); Mar 21, 2010.
AP Vocabulary
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pharisaical
PRONUNCIATION:
(far-uh-SAY-uh-kuhl)
MEANING:
adjective: Characterized by hypocritical self-righteousness; putting emphasis on strict observance of
rituals unrelated to the spirit or meaning of the ceremony.
ETYMOLOGY:
After the Pharisees, a Jewish sect during 1 BCE - 1 CE, whose members were noted for strict
observance of rites and rituals, and felt superior because of it. The word is derived via Latin and
Greek from Aramaic prishayya, plural of prish (separated).
USAGE:
"Then we have the pettiness and hypocrisy in the loud and pharisaical condemnation emanating
from the media and the public."
Garth George; No Credit to be Found in Card Debacle; The Daily Post (Rotorua, New Zealand); Jun
18, 2010.
AP Vocabulary
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stentorian
PRONUNCIATION:
(sten-TOR-ee-uhn)
MEANING:
adjective: Loud and powerful.
ETYMOLOGY:
In Greek mythology, Stentor was a herald in the Trojan War and noted for his loud voice. In the Iliad,
Homer described his voice to be equal to the voices of fifty men. He was put to death after his
defeat by Hermes (1, 2) in a shouting contest.
USAGE:
"David Beckham's legendarily stentorian and commanding voice would lend itself perfectly to a
career as a rapper."
Alexis Petridis; Tara Newley's Gritty New Film; The Guardian (London, UK); Sep 9, 2010.
AP Vocabulary
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harlequin
PRONUNCIATION:
(HAHR-luh-kwin, -kin)
MEANING:
adjective: In varied colors.
noun: A clown.
noun: A stock comic character, masked, and dressed in a diamond-patterned multicolored costume.
ETYMOLOGY:
Via French and Italian, after Herla king, a mythical figure sometimes identified as Woden, an Anglo-Saxon god.
USAGE:
"Long, multicolored armbands and stringy dresses added flashy flair, and diamond-patterned tights resembled what a
harlequin might wear."
Jamey Keaten; Galliano Aims For Hippies at Fashion Show; Associated Press (New York); Oct 9, 2004.
"Another designer had her models parading down the catwalk in 'traditional, flounced peasant blouses and full-tiered skirts
in brilliant red-and-white gingham, zigzag knit and harlequin patchwork'."
Rona Dougall; Someone Save Us From Frocky Horror Shows; The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland); Sep 28, 2004.
Explore "harlequin" in the Visual Thesaurus.
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A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. -Abraham Joshua Heschel, theology
professor (1907-1972)